GARLAND R. STROTHER

Garland Ray Strother, age 77, of Vandalia, passed away at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the family’s home in Vandalia.
Visitation was held from 12-2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Waters Funeral Home in Vandalia. A Masonic Service was held at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Services were held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia.
Officiating was the Rev. Jacob Strother. Music was provided by selected favorite hymns. Interment was in the Vandalia Cemetery at a later date.
Garland Ray Strother was born on November 28, 1935 in California, Mo. the son of George Hamilton and Blanche Elizabeth (Wood) Strother.
He married Constance Lee Ruggles on January 18, 1958 in University City, Mo. by an uncle, Rev. Lewis Strother.
Strother has been a Vandalia area resident since moving here with his parents in the early 1950’s.
Garland attended William Jewel College and then began working as a heavy equipment operator. He worked on the Cannon Dam project for a number of years and a stretch of U.S. 61 near Palmyra. Garland then became Assistant Superintendent of the Clinton Powerplant in Clinton, Ill. for 10 years. His work then required that he and his family move to San Antonio and Dallas, Texas for several years before coming back to the home base in Vandalia.
He then accepted a Superintendent’s job in Benton, Ill.
Garland “semi-retired” from construction work and then for another five years, he worked in sales and distribution for Green Supply of Vandalia.
Garland was a member of the First Baptist Church in Vandalia and a 50+ year member of Vandalia Masonic Lodge No. 491.
He enjoyed many hobbies through the years but flying and airplanes was his favorite.
Garland owned several different planes and was a charter member of the Vandalia Flying Club. He worked on older cars and motorcycles, flying radio-controlled airplanes, horses, riding motorcycles, boating and an avid hunter and gun collector. Garland looked forward to hunting season with his son and grandsons.
Survivors include his wife, Connie of Vandalia; one son, Rusty and wife, Jill Strother of Vandalia; one daughter, Cindy Strother of Troy, Mo.; two brothers: Gale F. and wife, Faye Strother of Crystal City, Mo.; Gregory L. and wife, Paula Strother of Salem, Ill.; two sisters: Betty Vinyard of Festus, Mo. and Barbara M. Osbourn of Florida; five grandchildren, Sierra C. Parker of Florissant, Logan R. Strother of Syracuse, N.Y.; Austin R. Strother of Blytheville, Ark.; Breana J. Coultas of Pittsfield, Ill. and Colton R. Strother of Vandalia; two great-grandchildren: Amiaya Howland and Elijah Howland; also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Georgie Strother who died at the age of four. Memorials are encouraged to Masonic Home of Missouri.

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